North Carolina has inspired and produced plenty of poetry over the years, and Carrboro is home to its fair share of rhyme, rhythm and meter. This week, however, there’s certainly more poetry in the air than usual as the town prepares for its annual West End Poetry Festival and a new poet laureate is named.
After serving his two-year term as poet laureate, Fred Joiner will be succeeded by Liza Wolff-Francis starting January 1, 2023 as wordsmith-in-residence after a unanimous selection by the Carrboro Arts Committee.
Wolff-Francis is an award-winning poet and author with work in both Spanish and English, who has been recognized by the North Carolina Poetry Society and featured in the “Pinesong” anthology. A release from the town of Carrboro announcing the selection highlighted both the duties of a poet laureate and Wolff-Francis’ goals for her time in the position:
As Poet Laureate, Liza Wolff-Francis will serve a two-year term and will work to enhance the presence of poetry in the social and civic life of Carrboro. Wolff-Francis will work with the Carrboro Poets Council (a subcommittee of the Arts Committee) and with town staff for the planning of and participation in the West End Poetry Festival (held annually in October) and Carrboro Day, outreach to local schools, and coordinate weekly readings at Town Council meetings. She plans to focus on a theme of hope through writing and self-expression.
Wolff-Francis will be formally introduced as Carrboro’s new poet laureate at theWest End Poetry Festival taking place on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15, at both Carrboro Town Hall and Century Center. The event is free and open to the public, and this year’s theme is “Music in Poetry.” A detailed schedule of events can be found here, from stage readings from featured poets to open poetry rounds encouraging any and all to share their words. On Saturday, the “Community Poem” – a compilation edited by Abigail Browning and Liza Wolff-Francis from lines contributed by voices in our community – will be read.
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